Hi. Rick here from Florida. I'm looking forward to visiting Alaska and meeting everyone. This will be my first visit. Now that school's out and I have a little more leisure reading time, I've been reading "Looking for Alaska," by Peter Jenkins. It's given me a nice glimpse into the various cultures and people of Alaska! The chapter "Howls of Glee," was especially entertaining as the author tells about his introduction to dog sledding through his experiences with Jeff King. Is anyone else reading anything Alaska related?
Rick Greenough
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TRUE STORY.... In the summer of 2000, my girlfriend and I were traveling in the Seward area... We came upon a bar and Hobo Jim happened to be playing. We were in the Yukon Bar... It is a great little place, it was crowded, dark, and a happy bunch of folks were enjoying the music. Suddenly, my friend Bobbie leaned in and said, 'Look who is sitting over there! I can't believe it!" You guessed it, Peter Jenkins was sitting there. I took Bobbie's picture --- Peter and Bobbie, at the Yukon Bar. When the book came out...."LOOKING FOR ALASKA" I am sure we were one of the first to buy it! There is a picture of Hobo Jim at the Yukon Bar in the section of colored pictures. But even cooler yet, starting on about page 383, Peter writes about being at the Yukon Bar. "The whole bar would stop what they were doing and sing along to Hobo's Alaskan classics.. Being at a hobo performance was like being at a far-out adult summer camp." Bobbie and I lived chapter 19.... True story!!!
Hi Rick
As I am steeping myself in all things Alaskan, I asked the same question about suggested reading materials. So far, I have read Don Bowers "Back of the Pack", Sydney Hungtinton "Shadows of the Koyukuk", Rachel Scdoris' "No End in Sight", and Lisa Frederick's "Running With the Champions". I have 3 books en route, "Alone Across the Arctic" by Pam Flowers, "Adventures of the Iditarod Air Force" by Ted Mattson, and Libby Riddles' "Race Across Alaska". Now those are very dogsledding and Iditarod related, for sure. Of course there is always Gary Paulsen's books - "Winterdance", etc. I have seen the "Lookinig for Alaska" book pop up on my Amazon account, and will add it to my order.
Hobo Jim popped into the restaurant at the Millenium hotel before the 2007 race and he sang at the musher's banquet...things you can experience if you make it back next February!
Jane, thanks for the suggested reading. I'll be sure and add those to my list.
Diane, that's a great story! I skipped ahead to chapter 19 to read about Hobo Jim. Also, there’s an excerpt from the book and some more information about him at Peter Jenkins’ website: http://www.peterjenkins.com/Hobo_Jim.htm
He seems to be an incredible lyricist! I love the lyrics to his “Iditarod Trail Song.” What a great song for the kids to learn during next year’s Iditarod unit. I see he’s playing in Homer, Soldotna and Seward on various nights of the week (according to Jenkins’ webpage).
I would put “See Hobo Jim” on my list of things to do in Alaska, but I guess that would be to far to go for a side trip.
I just checked Peter Jenkins' web site and see that Hobo Jim is playing at Alice's Champagne Palace in Homer on Wed. nights. Wouldn't you know - I'll be in Homer from Fri-Tues! May have to make a trip to Soldotna on Sat!
If anyone is sticking around AK for a while after the conference, Girdwood has an annual Forest Fair. It's July 6-8 and Hobo Jim will be performing on Sunday afternoon.
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